Button-sewing machine.



No. 886,826. P-ATEN'IED MAY 5, 1908; B. T. LEVEQUE.

BUTTON SEWING MACHINE. I APPLIOA TION FILED D3014, 1907.

O v Y/L c tasses:

No.'886,826. v PATENTED MAY 5, 1908.

B. T. LEVEQUE. BUTTON SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.14, 1 907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

MW t my invention relates the primary loop is UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

BERNARD LEYEQUE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOIt TO THE RLEECEBUTTON HOLE MACHINE COMPANY, OF BOSTON. MASS ACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OFMAINE.

nu'r'rongsnwme MACHINE.

This invention has for its object the pro-- duction of a novel, simpleand direct 'a-cting' machine for sewing'buttons onto fabrics 'at highseed, my invention involving a number of va uable' and novel features ofconstruction and arrangement, as will appear. hereafter.

In machines of the general class to which formed and drawn through theshank or eye of the button, and a secondary loop is then formed andinterlocked with the primary loop bybeing drawn through it, andheretofore the vertically reciprocating needle has,

been given a lateral movement after the formation of the primary loop.Such lateral movement positions the'needle with relation to the work inreadiness to form the secondary loop, but the-vertically reciprocatingand lateral movements imparted to the needlebar have necessitatedcomplicated mechanism, and have made the machine slow in operation. Y

In my present invention I employ a needle having a movement in a single.path, that is without any lateral movement, and thus at once simplifytheconstrnction and increase the speed at which the machine may beoperated,the work being given a slight advance, after the formation ofthe primary loop, by means independent of the needle. Such advancepositions the work for the formation of the secondary loop, and afterthe latter has been formed and drawn through the primaryloop it isspread and cast ofi' fromthe needle by novel'means, to be described, andplaced over the button close to "the work.

-The loop is then drawn taut and the work ;-is fed automatically intoposition for the at tachment of the next button;

By means of my novel loop spreading means the secondary loop is placedover the button close to the work without tipping the button,eliminating any button-tipping mechanism;

Specification of Letters Patent. I Application filed December 14,1907.Serial 'No.406,422.

Patented m 5, 1908.

-I have so,constructed the work feeding mechanism that it effects theslight advance of the workafter the formation of the primary loop, aswell as the main feed, and

means have been provided for regulating atwill the efi'ective length 'ofthe main feed according to the spacing or distance desiredbetweensuccessive buttons. The various novel features-of my-invention will befully described in the subjoined specification and particularly pointedout in the following claims.

Figure 1 1s a front elevation and partial section of a button-sewingmachine embodying one form of my present invention, showing some oftheoperating mechanism as well as the button-hopper and feed raceway;Fig. 2 is a'left hand end elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1, withthe parts in the same position; Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are enlarged viewscessive stepsthe mode of forming the interlocking primary and secondaryloops, and the action'of the feeding mechanism in connec'tion therewith;Fig. 6 is a detail ofthe tipping device for the loop spreader, to be described;-.Figs. 7 ,8 and 9 are enlarged details in plan showing themovements of the looper and the loo spreader. during the formation ofthe inter ocked loops, and corresponding to the positions shown in Figs.3, 4 and 5; Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail in section of the upper end ofthe carrier for the feed-prong, showing the manner in which the prong isyieldingly'mounted; Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view of the feedcontrolling cams and the parts of the feed mechanism governed thereby.

The base A, the head A provided with suitable bearings for the mainshaft B driven 9 from any suitable source of power, the button-hop er .Hhaving an, attached raceway H to direct the buttons to the pro erposition to be attachedto the work, the ooper L mounted on a rotatablelooper-bar L and. oscillated'from the cam L on the shaft B,

1, by suitable intervening connections,

may be and areof any well known construction'inbutton-sewing machines.-

- The upper end of the looper-bar L has a bearing 1' fixedin a housing 2erected on the base and provided with a longitudinal slot v3, Fig. 2,parallel'to the direction of feed, the slot guiding the enlarged shank 4of the feed prong 5, said shank being slidably mounted 60 spondinglyslotted at 26, the slot extending into the thicker portion of the campiece and. leaving cam shoulders 29 adapted to engage in the so'cketedupper end of a carrier 6-.and

yieldingly sustained by a spring 7, Fi 10, a

1 at the stop-pin 8 on the shank playing in .a s 0t 9 in the sidewall ofthe soc et, Fig. 2; 1 At its lower end'the carrier is jointed to an arm10 on the outer end-of a horizontal rock-shaft 1 1.

mounted in the base of the machine, a link 12 connected with a secondarm 13 on the rockshaft having afollower 14 which cooperates with a sidecam F on the main shaft B, Fig. 1,

the shape of the cam being shown in Fig.- 11.

The prong carrier 6. is raised and lowered proper times, tocausethe-prong 5 to enter -t e work after the been formed,,and to be witdrawn after the feed stroke of the carrier has beenaccomlished. A secondhorizontal rock-shaft 1'5 as an upturned arm 16 provided with a piv-.otally connected sleeve 17- which loosely embraces the carrier 6 nearits upper end, Fig. 2,

a second arm 18 on the shaft 15 being pivotallly connected with a link19 provided with a wer 20 cooperating with a side cam F on the shaftB,said cam havin the contour shown in Fig. 11. As the sha t 15 is rockedthe arm 16 is vibrated .in the direction of feed, and the carrier 6 willvibrate-in unison withit, swinging on its pivotal connection ,with thearm 10, as will be manifest.

The cam F is shaped to impart a short advance movement to the carrier 6and the feedrong 5.immediately after thelatter is raise by the cam F toengage the work, and

then after a dwell a second and longer ad-' vance is effected, therebyfeeding the work forward the desired distance to pro erly space thebuttons on the work. It w1l be seen that the u and down movement of thecarrierfiis uni orm, and so too the swinging movement of said carrier isuniform, but I have provided means whereby the effective length of thefeed movement ofthe prong 5 a suitable cam W The work-support 21*overhangs the path of movement ofthe feedprong 5, as shown, and has uponits under side a cam piece 26 held in adjusted position by a screw 27the shank of which enters a slot 28,..see dotted lines Figs. 3, 4fand 5,in the part 22 of the work-support. The worksupport has a lohgitudinalslot 21 through which the prong travels when in engagement with thework, and the cam piece 26 is corre the upper end of the shank 4 atopposite sides of the prong.

rimary loop has.

desired the cam piece 26 is set as shown in Figs. 3, land .5, the prongbeing shown in dotted lines, Fig. '5, as just leaving the work at theextreme end of the active stroke ofthe carrier 6. spacing betweensuccessive buttons the cam piece, is moved to the right, viewing said.figures, so that the cam shoulders 29 will engage the shank 4 beforethe carrier reaches the end of its active'stroke, to de ress the shankagainst the spring 7, there )y withdrawing the pron 5: from the worksooner. By this adjustab e retractor, as the cam piece may be termed,the effective length of the feed movement of the prong is varied asuniform and constant movements of the carrier 6 heretofore explained.

The overhanging end A of the'head A is provided with fixed bearings furthe vertically-reciprocating needle-bar 30 carrying a gle, fixed path,as will be obvious, and being reciprocated in any suitable manner, as bythe bell-crank 32, link 33 and rocker-arm 34, operated by the cam N,Fig. 1. A hookc oser 35 is carried by a bar 36 mounted adj acent theneedle-bar and is thrown down by a spring 37 when released from 'thespringcatch 38, such release being effected positively by the lug 39fast on the needle-bar and moving in thenotch 40 cut in the bar 36.

the top of the notch and liftsthe bar 36 to in, Fig. 2, the hook-closerper se not being of "my invention. By imparting a vertical reciprocationonly to the needle I am enabled to simplify the actuating mechanismtherefor and also to greatly increase the speed of operation, theinitial movement of the feed work positioning the same in readiness forthe descent of the needle preparatory to forming the secondary loop.

The machine is arranged to perform its cycle of operations necessary toattach a but- Won'to the work and then to stop automatically, as isusual in button-sewing machines, in readiness to be started by theoperator when the next button is to be attached, and

as the presser-foot 41 is' stationary the work W is clamped between saidpres-ser-foot and the work-sup ort 21 when the latter is raised.

As soon as the work is clamped the needle and hook-closer descend, thelatter into the position shown in Fig.3 within the staple or wayH, whilethe needle passes through the eye and penetrates the work. The looper Lthen carries the thread t around the needle, Figs; 3 and 7, so that thehook catches and draws up the primary 100 23 through the work and alsothrough the utton-eye, as in Should it be desired to reduce the I {Whenthe needle-bar rises the lug 39 engages.

eye b of the endmost button I) in the race-- If the full feed movementof the prong is may be desired without interfering with the hookedneedle 31, the needle moving in a sinenable the spring-catch 38 to act,as shown mechanism when in engagement with the scends clear of thebutton-eye but passing. through the primary loop and penetrates the worka second time behind the button, and

the thread for the secondary loop is carried around the needle by thelooper, theneedle risin and drawin said loo t 11 throu h D C b theprimary loop, effecting the interlocking of the two loops. The buttonraceway H is now moved away by means of the cam H and interveningeonneetions,-as usual, leaving the button free, and a loop-spreaderenters and spreads the secondary loop, casts it off from the needle andby a peculiar movement places the loop overthe button close to the work.i

The hopper H is pivotally mounted on the horizontal stud l1 and theraceway H is rigidly connected at its upper end with the hopper, a lug72 on the raceway near its lower end being pivotally connected with acrank arm 71' fast on a rock-shaft h mounted in.

suitable bearings on the head A, as shown in Fig. 1.

cooperates with a roll on an arm 12- shown in dotted lines Fig. 1,

fast on the shaft 71 to rock the latter at the proper time and through-the crank-arm 72. and lug 71 move the raceway and the hopper on thestud 11, this entire arrangen'ient and operation having no novelfeatures so far as I am aware, and having been in common use for manyyears.

Before describing the loop-spreader and its operation indetail it shouldbe stated thatthe. 'n'esser-foot 41 is longitudinally slotted at 42'forthe passage of the needle and the thread loops, as shown. An offsettubular bearing 43 herein shown as'mounted on'the upright part 41 of thepre'sSer-foot supports a vertical rock-shaft 44 having laterallyextended arms 45, 46 at its upper and lower ends, the arm beingconnected by a link 47 with a'depending arm 48 on a horizontalrock-shaft 49 mounted on the head of the machine, said rock-shaft havinga second arm 50 provided with a suitable roll or stud to cooperate withan operating cam S on the shaft B. The cam acts through the interveningconnections to oscillate the rock shaft 44 and move the arm 46 in acurved path from the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 7 to theposition shown in Figs. 5 and 9', and thenback again. Upon the arm 46 ispivotally mounted the shank 51 of a triangularskeleton loop-spreader 52,the tip 53 thereof being downcurved, as shown in Figs.

5 and 6, and opposite shallow notches 54 are formed in the sides of thespreader adjacent its base.

A lug 55 dependsfrom the spreader near its axis of rotation, to be attimes engaged by a tipping device, shown as an upright pin or stud 56erected on the presser-foot, to be referred to again. The outer end ofthe shank 51 has fast upon it a collar provided with an extension 57extended at its extremity under the arm e6,.a light spring'5S being madefast at one end on thearm and at its other end to the extensions 57, tonormally maintain the latter-against the bottom of the-arm, with thespreader 52 in substantially horizontal position, see full lines Fig. 5,and as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 6.

\Vhen the needle draws up the secondary loop t through the primary loop,as has been described, the loop-spreader is moved bodily inits curvedpath above the button, which has been released by withdrawal of theraceway H, and the point ofthe spreader enters the secondary loop. Theneedle is given a slight dip at this time, to uncover the hook andrelease'the loop, the continued movement of the spreader 5'2 casting offthe loop from the needle and spreading the loop as shown in Figs. 5and-9, the skeleton form of the loop spreader permitting the needle todescend within it at the time it dips. Vhen the loop is fully spread itenters the notches 54 and is temporarily held the final bodily movementof the spreaderbringing the lug 55 against the tipping device 56 andthereby tipping the spreader about its shank or axis 51 into dotted lineposition, Fig. 5. At this time the down curved tip 53 isclose to thework and overhangs the button, the extremity of the tip depending belowthe bottom of the button and closely approaching the button-loop, asindotted lines Fig. 5, and the secondary loop t is then shed from thespreaderand placed over the button, the loop being pulled taut aroundthe buttoneye or shank as the thread is taken up in usual manner. g

When the secondary loop is shed from the spreader the spring 58, whichwas stretched I by the. tipping of the spreader, coi'rtracts and returnsthe spreader to itsnormal substan tially horizontal position and thespreader,

and the means for sustaining the same, .are

returned to normal position. The feed of the work by the longer advanceof the feedprong 5, and the return of the prong tonormal positioncompletes the cycle of. operations, the work-support descending to theposition shown in .Figs. 1 and 2 at the completion of the cycle.

' It should be stated that the work-support 21 is raised by means of thespring finger 23 Fig. 1, extended. through the depending part 22 of thesupport, so that the work is ,held yieldingly between the work-supportand 'the presser-foot, permitting the short advance of the work afterthe formation of the primary loop and the latter main feed, but'thedescent of the work-support is positive, the bell-crank 28 engagingand depressing the spring finger 23 Iconsider the feeding movement ofthe work, which is effected. by a short and. a long advance or step, isof great importance as the mechanical structure of the machine issimplified, insuring greater speed of operation and better wearingqualities, and at the same time it enables me to impart to the needle avertical move-.

ment only, in a single path, Without any lateral movement. v

Heretofore 1t has been necessary to nnpart a lateral movement to theneedle, as well as through the button-eye, a deviceto spread thesecondary loop and place it over the but-. ton, and means independent ofthe needleto a vertical reciprocation, complicating the mechanism andretarding the button sewing or attaching operations. By the main feedmovement the spacing of the buttons is eff fected, and such spacing canbe varied by a single adjustment which is readily made, it beingmanifest that no other adjustment of 4 the entire machine is re uired.

Having fully describer my invention, what I claim as new. and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a button-sewing machine, mechanism to form interlocking primaryand secondary loops and draw the former through the button-eye,independent means to position the work for the formation of thesecondary loop, and adevice to spread the secondary loop and place itover the button.

advance the work slightly after the primary loop has been drawn throu hthe button-eye and to feed the work after t e secondary loop I has beenplaced over the button. r v

4. In a button-sewing machine, mechan ism, including a needle moving inasingle path, to form interlocked primary and secondary loops, the formerthrough the buttoneye, a device to cast off the secondary loop from theneedle and place it over the button,

and means to position the work for the formation of the secondary loop.

5. In a button-sewing machine, mechanism, including a reciprocatingneedle movable in a single path, to form interlocked pri* mary andsecondary loops, means to advance the work for the secondaryloo afterthe priand to feed the work after the -secondar loop is cast ofi, and apositively acting device to cast off the secondary loop and place itover'the button.

6. In a button-sewin ism, including a.verticalIy-reciprocating needle,to form and draw a rimary loop through the button-eye and to orm anddraw a secondary-loop through the primary loop, means to spread thesecondary loo and place it over the button,.and means independent of theneedle to advance the work after the formation of the primary loop andto feed the Work after the secondary loop has been placed over thebutton. p

7. In a button-sewing machine, a needle reci rocating in a fixed path,and a cooperating 00 er, to form primary and secondary interloc edloops, the former being drawn through the button-eye, and adevice to sread and cast off the secondary loop and p ace it over the button,combined with means to positively engage and advance the loop and Whilethe needle is at rest.

8. In a button-sewing machine,.mechan ary loops and draw the formerthrough the button-eye, ,aitriangular and substantially flat'spreaderhaving a down-curved tip and straight sidesconyerging from its base tothe and means to thereafter automatically tip the spreader about itsbase and de ress the down-curved tip below thebottom o the button andclose to the button-eye,-.to shed the loop and slide it over the buttonclose to the work, the base of the s reader being close to theneedlepath when i516 spreader 1s tipped. 9. In apparatus of the class deseried, mechanism to form interlocked primary and secondary button-attachingloops, combined with feed mechanism including a work-en- "gaging memberhaving a short, uniform adprimary loop and a succeeding longer movementin the same direction after the secondary loop has been formed andplacedover the button, and means to vary the eflective length of the longermovement. p 10. In apparatus of the class described, a verticallyreciprocating needle and a cooperating looper, to form interlocked,primary and secondary loops, the former through the button-eye, combinedwith mechanism to intermittingly engage the work and advance the sameby'a short step after the formation the secondary loop has een formedand work prior to formation of the secondary tip, to enter and spreadthe secondaryloop,

vance movement after the formatio'n of a of the primary loop and b along step after mary loop is drawn through t ebutton-eye machine,Inech'an- 95 ism to form interlocking primary and secondplaced over thebutton, and manually controlled means to determine the effective lengthof the long step. I

11. In a button-sewing machine, mechanism, including a needle to enterthe work, and a cooperating looper, to form a primary loop and drawitthrough a button-.eye and thereafter to form a'secondary loop and drawit through the primary loop, means, including a prong to enter theprimary loop opening in the work, to advance the Work for the formationof the secondary loop and subsequently to effect feed of the work, andadevice toengage and place the secondary loop over the button before theprong eflects feed of the work. I g

12. In apparatus of the class described, loop-forming mechanism to forminterlocking primary and secondary button-attaching loops, combined withfeeding mechanism, including a work-engaging member having an initialshort movement after the formation of the primary loop and a final andlonger feedmg movement after the secondary loop has been placed over thebutton, and adjustable means to effect automatically disengagement ofsaid member from the Work at a predetermined point in its longermovement to thereby vary the effective length of the feeding movement. I

13. In apparatus of the class described, mechanism to form interlockingprimary and secondary loops and to draw the former through thebutton-eye, and means to place the secondary loop over the button,combined with means to efl'ect a short advance of the work afterformation of the primary loop and thereafter to feed the work, and amanually adjustable device to vary the length of the feed 1 14. In abutton-sewing machine, mechanism to form interlocking primary andsecondary loops, the former through the buttoneye, support, a loopspreader mounted thereon and movable with and also relatively to thesupport, means to move the support and spreader as a unit in asubstantially horizontal, curved path to cause the spreader to enter andspread the secondary loop, and a device to tip the spreader Withrelation to its support and thereby shed the loop over the button, thetip of the spreader being down-curved to overhang and extend under toengage and tip the over the button, to thereby discharge the loop andplace it over the button close to the work.

16. In 4 a button-sewing machine, mechanism to form interlocking ondaryloops, the former through the button-eye, a fixedly positioned uprightfulcrum,

a support mounted to swing laterally upon ivotally said fulcrum, a loopspreader es to the mounted on the support at right ang fulcrum thereof,means to swing the support about its fulcrum to introduce the spreaderinto the secondary loop, and a device fixed with relation to sald suport and the spreader latter relatively to the support when in positionover the button, to depress the point of said spreader and shed the looptherefrom and place it over the button.

17 In a button sewing machine, mechanism to form interlocked primary andsecondary button attaching loops, a loopspreader having a down-curvedtipfmeans to move the spreader about a fixed center in a substantiallyhorizontal path to enter and spread the secondary loop, and a separatedevice to thereafter positively engage and tip the spreader withrelation to-its moving means, as saidvmeans is about to complete itsmovement, to thereby move the downcurved tip of the spreader over thebutton and adjacent the work, to shed the spread loop over the buttonclose to the work.

In testimony whereof, I have signed -my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BERNARD T. LEVEQUE. Witnesses:

JOHN C. ED ARDS, Ma GA nT A. DUNN.

primary and sec-'

